PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rebekah Cook-Mack, Staff Attorney at Legal Aid, on Intro 780
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Rebekah Cook-Mack, representing Legal Aid and NELA, testified in support of Intro 780 with some modifications. She emphasized the importance of expanding the sick leave law to better protect workers and keep New York City at the forefront of worker protection.
- Advocated for expanding definitions of care recipients and health care providers
- Suggested including use of ESTA for remote school pivots, public transit closures, and addressing educational needs
- Supported increasing unpaid sick leave time at the start of employment
Rebekah Cook-Mack
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Okay.
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Thank you so much.
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My name is Rebecca Cook Mack.
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I am a staff attorney at Legal Aid, in the employment law unit and a member of NELA, the New York, or part of the National Employment Association.
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And I'm here testifying on behalf of both organizations in support of intro 780 with some important modifications.
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But we do urge council to pass this bill.
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It will provide New York City workers with much needed ability to take sick leave and it will keep New York City's sick leave law at the forefront of the national discussion about how do we really care for and protect all workers.
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The proposed legislation represents an important step forward, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work closely with council member Nurse and her team to make sure that amendments are informed by the experiences of our clients and meet the needs of all New Yorkers.
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As, Shamala testified on behalf of A Better Balance, we agree that that the definition should be expanded, for care recipients and health care providers to be intentionally, broad and encompassing.
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We believe that, New Yorkers should be able to use ESTA for time off in response to remote school pivots or public, transit closures as we have experienced in recent years.
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We we believe that the law should allow New Yorkers to use ESTA time to address a care recipient or minor child's educational needs and ensure that no one loses their job to ensure their child can remain in school, and that the law should be expanded to enable the use of ESTA time to meet with legal or social service providers beyond just housing.
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And we support increasing the number of unpaid sick leave time that people start their job with so that illnesses can really run their course and we don't risk worrying and, making other other employees sick in in the process.
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So we support this bill.
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We are so
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pleased with the health care.